1. Put your weights
away after use. There is nothing worse than some moron leaving a huge amount
of weight on a bar and having some tiny little lady come by and want to
use the equipment. It is dangerous and not good for the life of the equipment.
Put your weights back were they belong. Iíve hurt my foot when someone
left a 10lb weight in with the 45lb plates. When I pulled the 45 off the
10 came down on my foot.

2. Share your equipment.
Most of the time when you are working out you will be in-between sets;
this is the perfect time for someone else to use the equipment. Let people
work in with you!

3. No cell phones
on the gym floor. We really donít care to hear about your social life plans.

4. My favorite, clean
up after yourself. There is nothing worse than going to use a piece of
equipment and finding it covered in sweat. We are human beings not pigs.
Hygiene.

5. We are all exercising
in close proximity to each other and people sweat, but donít walk into
the gym already carrying an offensive odour with you. Wear clean clothing,
not the stuff that youíve been wearing everyday for the past week and a
half.

6. In addition to
number 5, donít walk in covered with perfume or cologne. This is a gym
guys.

7.
Use the drinking fountain as a drinking fountain not a place to spit or
a place to leave your gum. Also when the fountain is lined up, donít fill
your two-litre water bottle.

8. Donít drop or bang
the weights around. Itís not good for the equipment and itís not good for
our hearing.

9. Donít socialize
during your workout. Itís a gym, chat later. That five-minute conversation
youíre having with buddy between sets extends your time on that piece of
equipment a great deal. Others may be waiting to use it.

10. During the busy
times, donít do supersets that require you to use two or three pieces of
equipment. Donít monopolize the equipment.

11. Donít offer unsolicited
advice. If you see somebody who is doing something wrong be very careful
how you approach him and always be pleasant when giving advise.

12. Be attentive.
Watch to see who is using what piece of equipment. There is nothing worse
than going for a drink of water and having some guy clean your weights
off because he didnít know someone was using the equipment.

13. Donít swear or
talk too loudly. Manners please.

14. Itís to be expected
that people will make some noise pushing out the last couple of reps in
an exercise, but donít over do it. Iíve seen people grunt, groan and scream
during their warm ups. Guys we are not impressed.

15. Offer to spot
people. If you see someone doing a heavy lift and he or she doesnít have
a spotter be prepared to assist if they fatigue enough to put themselves
in danger. If you are going to spot people learn to do it correctly. Too
often people spot too much or not enough. You should help just enough to
keep the bar moving, thatís it.

Gym Terminology

Gyms can be an intimidating place for new people.
Just trying to figure out how to use the equipment properly is the biggest
challenge to start. Then the etiquette, then nutrition and then what the
hell are these guys talking about? Sets? Reps?

Basic Terms and what they mean:Deuce and a half- 2-½ lb weight.Nickel- 5 lb weight.Dime- 10 lb weight.Quarter- 25 lb weight.Plate- 45 lb weight. Example, four 45 lb plates on a
bar, (total weight 225 lb), would be called two plates, as there are two
plates on each side of the bar. Six plates on a bar, (315 lb), would be
called three plates. And so on. Bar- Generally a standard Olympic bar, weighing 45 lbs.EZ bar- strangely shaped bar usually used for arm work.Flat bench- Flat bench. Incline bench- A bench that angles upwards, and
can be set at various angles.Preacher bench- A bench that generally has a 90-degree
side and a 45-degree side, used mostly for arm curls.Rep- One full motion of an exercise. For example bringing
a bar down and then pushing it back up in the bench press. That would be
one rep.Set- Comprised of reps. For example eight reps may make
up one set. Gym Rat- Any one of those people who seem to live at
the gym, and eat and breath weight training.

16. Donít do stupid lifts.
Iíve refused to spot a guy doing a 585lb bench press. The problem was he
could only do one rep at 495lbs. There was no way in the world he was going
to get 585lbs. 510, maybe. I was not willing to jeopardize my well-being
for a moron.

17. Donít walk in
front of people using the mirror. Thatís just plain rude. Also if you are
using the mirror donít stand 12' away from it during prime time and expect
people to keep clear.

18. Donít stare
or hit on attractive people. They are there to work out just like you.
Talk to them in the parking lot. On the other hand, if you wear only the
tiniest bit of clothing to workout in, and that happens to be skin tight,
expect people to look at you.

It all comes down to manners folks. Treat others better then how you
would like to be treated.